National Night Out calls police to dozens of neighborhoods

In just two hours, Rock Hill police officers and firefighters visited dozens of neighborhoods Tuesday night. Their goal was to meet as many people as possible and work towards better community relationships.

For the first time in a decade, the South Confederate Community set up for National Night Out. Kim Gray said trash on the streets and concerns about break-ins got him interested in the idea to hold the event again.

"This is exactly what we needed. Some things in the neighborhood are not up to par," he said.
 
The crowd that turned out, which included elderly people, young families and parents, felt as if they mattered. Misty Seward watched her son play on a bouncy house while she spoke with police.
 
"It showed the kids that they really meant something, especially when they (the police) came out in the rain," she said.
 
National Night Out builds community by getting neighbors out to talk with their neighbors as well as with the public servants who keep them safe.
 
"We can show them who we are, and that we're really concerned about what's going on in their lives," Matt Beach, a Rock Hill police officer, said.
 
Officer Sarah Arrington has taken part in the annual event for the past 15 years and also views National Night Out as a positive event.
 
"It's just a nice opportunity to do something besides the regular patrols. We get tips from them too, and lots of help," she said.
 
Channel 9 followed one of the five caravans as they drove from block party to block party, hitting 35 neighborhoods.
 
Rhene Ervin has only lived in the South Confederate neighborhood for four months, and she was glad to get a flyer about the community event.
 
"Getting to know the cops and being friendly with the cops, I think it helps out everybody," she said.
 
With national news of police shootings and protests, some told Eyewitness News Reporter Greg Suskin that these events were as important as ever.
 
"It's so vital right now, with everything that's going on," Dorothy Kiser, a church volunteer said, "We need to be involved."
 
Despite severe storms, heavy rain and lightning, people huddled beneath tents and braved the weather to spend time together. A whole city took time to talk, share a meal, and encouraged neighbors to keep their lights on, one night of the year.

Community, CMPD come together for National Night Out

Police and neighbors across the area are coming together for National Night Out, which comes as the entire country deals with tension between police departments and the people they serve.

Organizers expected more than 300 people at the National Night Out Charlotte event in Hidden Valley.

While there were lots of vendors and snacks, the main goal each year is to improve communication between police and the community to help keep both sides safe.

Saundra Jackson and her team have been working since Christmas to set the stage for police and neighbors to unite in a healthy, safe space.

"My No. 1 goal is to get everyone out enjoy themselves and know your neighbors, to know police are here for you," Saundra Jackson, Hidden Valley National Night Out organizer, said.

This year, that goal is even more critical officers have come under fire for deadly shootings and watched their brothers in blue become targets across the country.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney talked about the importance of the timing of this year’s event.

"With everything that that's going on right now we want our officers to see the outpouring of support," Putney said.

Committee members believe rising tension between police and the communities they serve may draw out an even larger crowd this year.
 
"It impacts the event and it also impacts the people around it," organizer Helen Mungo said.

The event has grown in the Hidden Valley neighborhood resulting in a drop in crime drop and a rise in community engagement. This is the 13th annual event and organizers believe the key to its success is the time people get to spend getting to know their local police.

"They're not there just because it's their job, they're there because that's what they want to do," Jackson said.

Along with the police chief, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Andrew Murray, Mayor Jennifer Roberts and Congresswoman Alma Adams attended the event.

The chief said he is trying to attend as many National Night Out events as he can so officers can see how much people support them.

Cox Media Group